July 14, 2017

Having worked in care homes for well over a decade and rising to become a hospice manager, I have seen the best and the worst of care for older adults. Our seniors rely on us to look after them in their times of need, but some people fail them. And the worst, abuse. It is important, when visiting your loved ones, to try and spot any signs of abuse, including:

●Unexplained bruises appearing on a regular basis

●Sprains and broken bones

●Burns

You need to also ask yourself if these are a case of clumsiness or actual abuse. It’s difficult to make an accusation without evidence and getting it wrong could ruin someone’s career while allowing real abuse to slide is hurting a loved one. Be careful but if different accounts tell conflicting stories about what happened something might be up. Make a record of how frequently injuries occur and see if there were any delays in seeking care for any injuries.

There are many things you can do including contacting authorities, taking your loved ones to somewhere safe, and seeking professional help. You can find out a lot more about this heartbreaking subject in this piece on elder abuse and what to do about it.